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Description
Due to current situation with the Covid-19, project partners have come to conclusion that there is a need to pay much more attention to the student - centered learning, blended learning and adaptation of different teaching methods. It demands sharing of academic and administrative staff expertise and enhance future cooperation of the involved institutions. Both project partners are looking for opportunities to increase the quality of studies and to find the best solutions for integrating research into the study process. The unifying factor is study programmes in nutrition carried out in both universities. As there is no previous international cooperation experience between project partners, the foreseen mobility of staff within the project will serve as a first step in the development of further bilateral cooperation.
The goal of the project is to exchange knowledge and experience of the academic and administrative staff of Riga Stradiņš University and University of Iceland in order to increase the quality of studies by improving the content of nutrition study courses, teaching methods, knowledge transfer to the labour market environment, and integration of the latest research in the study process.
Direct target group of the project is academic and administrative staff (5 outgoing and 2 incoming mobilities), but indirectly, by using the mobility results, also students will bet positively affected.
The main tasks of the project are to exchange experiences of organizing courses in nutrition field, to improve course content, to define the direction of academic and scientific collaboration, and to consider the possibilities of bilateral mobilities of students. The project will also define academic and scientific collaboration directions.
Summary of project results
The project participants were planning to get acquainted with nutrition programs in Rīga Stradiņš university and University of Iceland, their teaching methods and integration of the latest research in the study process.
Range of key issues of nutrition science in Latvia and Iceland is similar, including research in eating habits, addressing nutrition literacy issues, the use of local foods in modern menu and strategy for making dietary recommendations and its implementation.
Both universities were looking for opportunities to increase the quality of studies and to find the best solutions for integrating research in the study process of nutrition.
Emerging evidence showed a notable increase in body weight due to unfavourable changes in physical activity and nutrition. These impacts of the pandemic added to the challenge the Region is facing in tackling risk factors and combating noncommunicable diseases.
Exploring nutrition related initiatives like Iceland’s adherence to one of the WHO’s recommended nutrition models - Nordic Diet – provided valuable experience, since currently recommended energy and nutrient intakes for the population of Latvia are based on the Nordic Nutrition Recommendations, created by Iceland and other Nordic countries. Therefore, alignment and synchronization of the guidelines is of great importance, as well as gaining experience on the effectiveness of using the Keyhole nutrition labelling to make easier for consumers to meet national dietary guidelines.
During the project the project contract and documents were signed. After that participants were selected and they prepared for their mobilities. Actual mobilities were done in April and October. After the mobilities the final documents where prepared.
As a result of discussed cooperation opportunities during mobility visits Rīga Stradiņš University launched the Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Program in 2024 to establish regular future collaboration between RSU and The University of Iceland. This is planned to be the first Erasmus+ mobility program for students of the master''s study program Nutrition Science.
Different approaches were discussed to increase the quality of studies both in Latvia and Iceland. One suggestion was to integrate nutrition related subjects in the first year of study process together with the basic subjects. Colleagues from Iceland reported better results and more satisfied students. Another approach was to merge nutrition science with food science, to get knowledge about industry.
Student-centered teaching and learning methods were discussed, focusing on the blended learning as one of the first steps promoting the acquisition of the international experience.
A mutual sharing of experience regarding the structure and content of nutrition and food related study programs and courses during the visits has given new ideas for improvements and confirmed the need to solve the already identified shortcomings. Subsequently, optimization of the study program plan was proposed.
New Nordic Nutrition Recommendations (NNR) released in 2023 is a unifying moment for both countries, as both are involved in their development and will use NNR as a basis for implementing local dietary guidelines. During the visits, the dietary habits of both countries were discussed in the context of the food products recommended and many unifying aspects were discovered which will serve as a basis for implementing joint research in the field of nutrition, including nutrition literacy as one of the most important dietary pattern predictors.
Further cooperation will continue through discussion how to find the best solutions for integrating research into the study process.
The established contacts with the academic staff of the University of Iceland in the field of nutrition are very important for further cooperation and internationalization of the studies. Valuable experience was gained on how studies are organized in Iceland. The defined common research directions and scientific interests allows to develop the collaboration in the implementation of scientific projects. It will also promote the involvement of students in international research.
Summary of bilateral results
5 Outgoing (to Iceland) and 2 Incoming mobilities (to Latvia) were conducted. Representative of University of Iceland actively participated in preparation stage for outgoing mobility, participated in academic and business visits and discussed further cooperation. Thanks to the implemented project, student mobility was promoted for both the sending side and the receiving side. The implementation of the project helped to implement the goals set also in the Academy''s Strategy regarding internationalization (student mobility).Mutual cooperation with the Volda University College both within the Erasmus+ program and other projects will be continued.